Tony Curtis

Tony Curtis was originally Bernard Herschel Schwartz and began his life on June 3, 1925 in the Bronx, New York. He had very little formal education and quickly learned that the only person who he could count on was himself. In 1942 Tony entered the Navy and spent three years working as a crewman and performing as a sailor in stage plays. Curtis auditioned for the New York Dramatic Workshop where he appeared in many plays and was seen by Joyce Selznick who introduced him to her uncle David O. Selznick. In 1948 Curtis changed his name and began a prolific career by appearing in offbeat roles in low-budget productions.

In 1950 Curtis got his chance to demonstrate his acting talent in the action-western Sierra. Curtis longed to act in movies that had social relevance. His chance came in Spartacus (1950) and The Defiant Ones (1958).

Curtis's trade marks were his distinctive Bronx accent and extremely good looks. He married Janet Lee (actress) in 1951 and his daughter Jamie Lee Curtis is still acting.

Curtis made odd films at the end of his career. Lobster Man from Mars, Othello, el commando negro and The Bad News Bears Go to Japan. He did make awesome movies like the Great Race and Sex and the Single Girl early in his career. Curtis died September 289, 2010 in Henderson, Nevada. He disinherited his children and left his entire estate to his last wife.